Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29,124, Edward Dorr, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Dorr, Edward
S. 29,124
CONTENTS

15713 Massachusetts
Edward Dorr
of Essex Co in the State of Massachusetts who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Merick of the Regt. commanded by Col. Brooks in the Mass. Militia line for 17 mo 12 ds.
Mr.
77 Essex
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 58 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of May 1833 and sent to W. Woark. Newburyport
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $116.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending Sept. 29.00 $145.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk, Book Vol. 2 Page 11

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.
State of Massachusetts; County of Essex, ss.
On this eleventh day of September A.D. 1832, personally appeared, in open Court, before the Honorable Daniel Appleton White , Judge of the Court of Probate for the county of Essex aforesaid, now sitting at Newburyport  Edward Dorr — a resident of Salisbury in the county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, aged nearly seventy five years , who being first duly sworn according to Law, did, on his oath, make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated:
He first enlisted at Marblehead, in the month of April or March of May, A.D. 1775, in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Merrill; in the regiment commanded by Colonel Glover; and marched with said company to Cambridge, directly after the battle which was fought with the enemy at Bunker Hill (so called) and served at said Cambridge, as a private in said company, eight months, the full term for which he enlisted, and was discharged at said Cambridge on the last day of December following, or 1 st of January 1776.
That at the time of his enlistment he resided at said Marblehead, and was serving his apprenticeship with said Merrill.
Also enlisted at Roxbury, in said State, and joined the company commanded by Captain John Mayhew; in the regiment commanded by Colonel Brooks, on the 3 rd day of November A.D. 1777, taking the place (in his own name) as substitute for Enock Hyde, and was stationed at Fort No. 2, in said Cambridge, and served in said company, as private soldier, a further term of three months, a part of which time, with said company, as guards to the prisoners of General Burgoyne's Army, and the remainder at Blankens Command to Major Andrew Brown, Muster Master; was discharged at said Cambridge, on the 3 rd day of April A.D. 1778.
Also in the month of July 1778, enlisted at said Roxbury, in the company commanded by Captain John Wentworth; in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Gerrish, and joined said company at Winter Hill, in said Cambridge; — engaged as a substitute for Ephraim Hyde, and served as such, but in his name, as Orderly Sergeant, a further term of three months, when said Ephraim Hyde resumed his place and was discharged at said Winter Hill.
That afterwards in the year 1779 (and as far as he can now remember, in June of that year, he engaged in a company, the only Officers of which that he now remembers, was then Sergeant William Winship, who then belonged to the town now called Medford) — he engaged at said Roxbury for the term of six weeks, marched to Swanton, in the State of Rhode Island, but did not join any regiment — was quartered in the house of a Quaker, and served as a private with others, as guards from Newlands Ferry to Fall River, so called, and was discharged at the expiration of said term. — never had any written discharge Samuel Nye, Esq., and Jacob Brown, Esq., referred to for character for truth.
That he now resides in Salisbury aforesaid, and has resided there more than fifty years previous to which he resided at Roxbury, except during his apprenticeship at Marblehead — was born in said Roxbury, has no record of his age. Was born October fourth, One thousand seven hundred fifty-seven. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Edward Dorr.
Sworn to (and subscribed) the day and year aforesaid.
D. A. White
J. H. Paton

We David Damon a Clergyman, residing in Salisbury aforesaid & Jacob Brown Esq. a Magistrate, residing in Salisbury aforesaid, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Edward Dorr Ely who has subscribed and sworn to the aforesaid declaration; that we believe him to be nearly seventy five years of age --- that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
David Damon
Jacob Brown,
Subscribed and sworn to before
W. Waite Justice of the Peace
And the said Court hereby declares its opinion, after the investigation of the matter, (and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department), that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
And the Court further certifies that Rev d David Damon who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in Salisbury aforesaid (and that the said Jacob Brown Esq. who has also signed the same is a Magistrate resident at Salisbury aforesaid) and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. White Judge of Probate
I Nathaniel Lord Junior, Register of the Court of Probate for the county of Essex, aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Edward Dorr Ely for a pension --- also that John Prince and William Waite, are Justices of the peace for the said county of Essex, and that their respective signatures to the annexed affidavits are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have also hereunto set my hand (and Seal of Office), this eleventh day of September, A D 1832.
Nath l Lord Jr.

Edward Donn Maps
March 17 Mar 12 Aug 1/2
57.75 57.75 57.75 57.75
W. Moart Newburyport Mass
mentioned.
2. (SIGNED) that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above.
3. Are the papers defective in form or authentication, and if so, in what respect?
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?
4. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by
5. Where did he reside when he entered the service?
6. In what business was he engaged?
   Period Years Position of Service Pay Rank Color     March 17 Mar 12 Aug 1/2 15107  
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

BRIEF in the case of Co of Essex
Edward Dorr in the State of  Mass (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 75  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     April In 1775 entered 8. private Col Merrill Col Glover   3 Novem 1777 substitute 5 " Col Mayo Col Brooks   July 1778 " " 3. " Col Wentworth Col Green   June 1779 engaged 1. 12 " does not recollect the Officers  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Marblehead Mass  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional and two living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of Edward Dorr , a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you will please find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 1775 8 mos Pvt. Merritt Glover Mass.   Nov. 1777 5 " Sutler Mays Brooks "   July 1778 3 " " Wentworth Gerrish "   June 1779 1 " Pvt. not rem. not rem. "  
Battles engaged in, none men. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Marblehead Mass. Date of application for pension, Sept. 11, 1832. Residence at date of application, Salisbury, Mass. Age at date of application, 75 years.
Remarks:
Very respectfully,
Dalton Dorr, 4208 Elm Ave., Phila. Pa.
Commissioner.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Edward Dorr which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yy V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yy

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yy
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yy
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yy
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yy
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
at 2
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

I Josiah Adams, of Newbury, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy five years, and upwards, on oath do testify and say, that I was an adjutant and served as such in Colonel Gerrish's regiment, in the war of the revolution. That Ephraim Hyde was first Sergeant in Captain John Wentworth's Battery, in said Colonel Gerrish's Regiment in the year 1778. I have not the least doubt in my mind that at one period of said service - Edward Dorr Esquire who was here at Salisbury, in said county - served one part of the said Hyde's Term at Winter Hill in the year aforesaid, and am thus satisfied from facts and circumstances shown to me by said Dorr, and my own record of said service - Josiah Adams Newbury Sept 13 1802.
Edes do - Then personally came Josiah Adams above named who is personally known to me and make oath in due form of law to the truth of the above written deposition by him subscribed in my presence - I do also certify that said Josiah Adams is believed by me to be a credible witness
(W. H. Adams) Justice of the Peace

Edward Dorei Declaration.
15107

I Mason Harris of Marblehead, in the County of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, (near eighty years of age): on oath testify and declare: that I was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and was well acquainted with Edward Dorr, who was also a soldier in said war; that he then lived in Marblehead, now living in Salisbury, County and State aforesaid, that he enlisted, at Marblehead, in John Merritts company John Glovers Regiment of Infantry, as a private, in May, the sixteenth day, seventeen hundred and seventy five (as appears by an existing roll of said company) and that he performed duty, in said Company, at Marblehead until the twenty second day of June following, when the Company marched to Cambridge, and he with the said Company, and there joined the American forces then under Genl. Ward; soon after, Genl. Washington took command; and he the said Dorr, continued to serve as a private in said Company until the thirty first day of December, seventeen hundred seventy five, when he was discharged.
Witness Nathan Bowen
Mason Harris
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex ss Town of Marblehead August 6 th 1832. Then personally appeared the above named Mason Harris, and declared on oath in due form of Law that the above written affidavit, by him subscribed, in my presence, is true. And I also certify that the above named Nathan Bowen is a Credible Witness.
Before Me John Pierce Esq.

I, Moses Cheney of Newbury, in the county of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventyfour years and upwards, on oath do testify, and declare, that I am well acquainted with Edward Dorr Esq who resides in Salisbury, in said county of Essex, and do know that he the said Dorr was a private soldier and served at Cambridge in the Massachusetts Militia, and that he was attached to Major Andrew Brown, who was deputy Muster Master of the Station. - I am not able to say how long he served - but I know that he was in said service, the whole of the time that I was stationed at said Cambridge, and that I left him there, I was there on duty principally for three months.
Newburyport August 20th 1832.
Moses Cheney
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Do - Newburyport August 20th 1832 - Then Moses Cheney above named, who is personally well known to me, and made oath, in due form of Law, to the truth of the above written deposition by him subscribed, in my presence - I do also certify that the said Moses Cheney is believed by me to be a credible witness -
Wm. C. Davis Notary of the Peace

D N. 3024 R Philadelphia, 4208 Elm Avenue.
24 March, 1894.
War Department (Revolutionary Claim)
Sir:-
I have the Pension Certificate of Edward Dorr of Manchester, "who was a Private in the War of the Re- bellion ," given at the War Office of the U.S. the 28 th May 1833 and endorsed "Recorded in the Pension Office in Book E. Vol 2 p. 16."
I wish to ascertain the dates of his Enlistment and discharge and the company or companies he served in, and to get a copy of his application for pension.
Respectfully
Dalton Dorr.

29124 Rev INVALID.
Apr. 13/94 Mil. Heist. G- Walton Dorr, 4208 Elm Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. C
File No. 29124
Edward Dorr
Rev Rev Mrs
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 111
[Arrangement of 1870.]